A recruiting note, and more

From the Westwind Prep Twitter account: New Mexico State after WPA 2014 Combo guard Tate de Laveaga now. Already offered WPA 2013 guard Josh Braun.

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Kyle Goon serves up some Aggie basketball notes. 

WAC recruiting tweets and more

From Jerina: "Utah State at El Cerrito HS practice yesterday, interested in 2013 PG Rae Jackson. (CA)"

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Jason Groves tweeted: "Tanveer Bhullar told me he is a 2014 recruit. NMSU has offered him"

Word is he has a rather impressively-sized brother.

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Inside Runner Sports writes about a local point who is gathering interest from Texas San Antonio.

Thursday's WAC compilation

Recruit Dirt tweeted: "6'7 F Jacoby Armstrong #2013 of Quest Academy (NV) - Offers from UTA, Montana State, Sam Houston State, Albany,& New Hampshire"

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Robert Robinson tweeted regarding Riley Bradshaw: "interesting 2 see what restrictions former Griz coach Morril puts on his release Can not go 2 Griz or maybe has 2 go 2 the Griz"

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Kyle Goon writes it's Simon Fraser next in The Spectrum and provides a number of player quotes from Stew Morrill.

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Here's Joe Scott at Media Day on his Denver squad: "Talent-wise, there is no doubt the ability is there, now it's just about gelling as a team," Scott said. "It's about the way the team comes together, the team personality and the team chemistry. Right now I think we're doing well in all those areas, but you never really know about those things until you have to step onto the court and they turn the lights on for real..."

Wednesday's WAC roundup -- reading this will kill your morning plans

CBS Sports and its list of top 50 Bigs nationally contains zero WAC players. Who is going to step up and prove 'em wrong?

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The WAC coaches and media polls have been released.

Check out these links: Kyle Goon, Josh Wright (including a note that Kyle Barone is back practicing),

Kyle Goon has the inevitable words from Coach Stew Morrill.

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Jason Groves has posted his New Mexico State depth chart.

PTW is apparently missing the boat as Tyrone Watson is first at power forward. It's certainly the best spot for him regarding his shooting range but can he perform his best there at 6-foot-4? Remi Barry is also listed at the four as well as elsewhere.

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Sean Kramer writes about how the early positional battles are shaping up in Moscow.

Mark Nelke covers similar ground.

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Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook previews San Jose State University.

SJSU athletics covers a Spartan intra-squad scrimmage.

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Justin Harrison covers the bigs for USU.

Jordan Dahl looks at the wing types and guards.

Kyle Goon adds a bit more to how matters in Logan are playing out.

Monday's WAC hoops digest

USUStats provides an update on former Aggie Jaycee Carroll. He is one of the highest paid overseas players and will retire quite wealthy despite never having set foot in the NBA.

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Kyle Goon writes about USU's initial scrimmage.

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Sam Wasson goes a bit against the tide with his predicted WAC finish and top player picks. Certain Denver and Texas Arlington players will be very happy but Idaho fans not so much.

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Benjamin Miraski is high on the Aggies of New Mexico State.

Thursday's WAC roundball digest

SoCal power forward Kyle Benton has committed to Portland State of the Big Sky Conference.

In a September 26 article, the 6-foot-7 senior described Idaho as his leader.

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But this probably had something to do with the above as Coach Don Verlin recently landed Ayodele Ojo, a JC frontcourter out of Missouri as Loyalvandal has posted at the Vandals.net MB.

Here's a brief note. Ojo scored 6.8 points, nabbed 5.5 rebounds and blocked 1.1 shots per game as a freshman, shooting 49% overall and 58% from the foul line.

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Here's the Utah State out-of-conference schedule analyzed by Myron Medcalf/ESPN:

UTAH STATE

Toughest: at BYU (Dec. 5)
Next-toughest: Saint Mary’s (Nov. 15)
The rest: Idaho State (Nov. 10), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (Nov. 17), Weber State (Nov. 24), at Santa Clara (Nov. 28), Western Oregon (Dec. 8), at Utah Valley (Dec. 15), Nicholls State (Dec. 20), UC Davis (Dec. 21), Southern Illinois (Dec. 22)
Toughness scale (1-10): 4 -- Before Utah State takes its talents to the Mountain West, it will finish its tenure in the WAC vying with New Mexico State for the conference championship. If the Aggies can win at BYU and take out SIU and Saint Mary's at home, they’ll certainly be prepared for another run to the WAC title. But one or two additional matchups against high-major opponents wouldn’t have hurt.

Speaking of the Aggies, Matt Sonnenberg writes about the suitorship between Stew Morrill and Rashard Figures.

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Chris Johnson is not overly impressed with the recent additions to the WAC.

Friday's WAC hoops roundup

Per the USUFans Stew's Spectrum MB, foreveranaggie quotes Stew Morrill that Yuba College transfer power forward Sean Harris will miss this season due to injury.

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Jerry Briggs writes that Texas San Antonio Coach Brooks Thompson is gladly welcoming back his former starting center who was out in 2011-12 due to injury.

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Seattle U Hoops' latest is all about the Redhawks and the Big West Conference.

Thursday's WAC digest

Sad news out of Ruston.

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From Hoop Dirt: "Multiple sources have told me that Washington State DBO Tim Marrion will join the staff at San Jose State as an assistant. Marrion is a WSU alum who has been on the Cougars staff for the past three seasons. He has previously worked at San Jose State – he held various roles on the SJSU staff from 2006-2009. The official announcement is expected shortly."

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Denver received some positive national pub from Sports Illustrated.

Utah State was also included in Andy Glockner's piece.

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Texas State is spending a week in Costa Rica this summer. Former Idaho Vandal Corey Stern is a member of the Bobcats, at 6-foot-7 but 270 pounds. He wasn't anywhere near the latter while in Moscow.

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Hey, there are many reasons Prospect X didn't sign (or did) with your favorite college team. Eric Prisbell (now with USA TODAY) is out with another in the never-ending supply of stories involving benjamins, college recruiting and the I-got-to-get-mine crowd.

Opportunity produces motivation which leads to what we have the so-called adults doing now, a 'system' in which the individuals possessing the talent are bartered like pork bellies while being recipients of the least of the largesse.

Rob Dauster provides a guessing game -- and if you can't guess the winner then any of the Las Vegas casinos will gladly fly you free-of-charge to Sin City.

Wednesday's WAC news and link collective

Former Utah State Aggie Steven Thornton has followed in former teammate James Walker's footsteps and is at Citrus College in southern California.

In the 2011-12 season, the 6-foot-3 then freshman backcourter/wing played in seven games, averaging 14 minutes a contest as well as 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds.

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Texas State has also just offered Northern Arizona transfer, Danny Cheek, a 6-foot-4 guard who will also be at Citrus as a sophomore for the coming season.

Here's a February 16 article portending of Cheeks' departure from Flagstaff. He played 129 minutes last season.

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Tony Jones has a catchup on USU recruiting and leads with the possibility of a commit coming soon.

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It's The Rock at #9 for Matt Sonnenberg.

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Cameron Dollar has filled his assistant coach opening and there is an indication that the Redhawks' recruiting might be going international.

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Inside Runners Sports has posted that Coach Brooks Thompson has offered a 2013 Texas two guard.

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Here's an interview PTW missed earlier with Roadrunner top talent Jeromie Hill.

Saturday morning's WAC basketball exposure

Yannis Koutroupis @ Hoopsworld profiles the unsung college seniors who will likely he heading overseas and he has San Jose State University's Wil Carter among them:

One of the lone bright spots this season for the struggling San Jose State Spartans was the play of Wil Carter. Carter averaged 13 points and eight rebounds a game while shooting 51 percent from the field. Yet, the team’s woes made it to where he couldn’t have too much joy over it.

“It was very bittersweet feeling personally,” Carter said to HOOPSWORLD. “I felt like I succeeded with the numbers I put up personally, but it was kind of overlooked because we didn’t win a lot of games. It was hard to go through that mentally and emotionally to lose even though I’m doing everything I can.”

What made it even more difficult for Carter was that he was playing out of position the entire year. Stuck at center due to the team’s needs, he was limited to playing just in the paint. However, that’s not who he truly feels he is.

“The biggest thing is I can shoot the ball very well,” Carter said. “My natural position is a stretch four. I can stretch the court, shoot the three. I’m athletic enough to drive it to the hoop off the dribble. That’s not something you’re going to see from my college tape because I played out of position. That’s another advantage for me, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. I put up really good numbers even though I wasn’t playing my ideal position. I’m versatile and that’s something I think I’m going to be able to show to people, my full skill set.

“My ball handling skills, shooting, pick and pops, off of curls, off the dribble. Things I wasn’t able to do during the season, now I’m trying to rep it out so when I get in workouts I can show that I can do this, I just haven’t been able to show it yet.”

Along with having underrated versatility, Carter also brings stability that teams will undoubtedly find attractive.

“I’m not a guy that anyone needs to worry about,” Carter said. “I’ve been married for two years. My life is off the court is solid. I don’t do stupid things. I’m not someone you have to worry about on the weekends. That stability has allowed me to become stable on the court, work out several hours a day because my life is in order.”

As an undersized center, the odds are stacked against Carter. But once he shows that he’s capable of playing, and defending, the power forward spot the outlook on him will change significantly.

Koutroupis also has four other segments on this topic so do click through on his links.

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Matt Sonnenberg is back with apples and oranges for the Utah State players based on their 2011-12 performances. Kyisean Reed is up.

Friday and the return of actual WAC hoops news

The Chris Udofia Bandwagon was started yesterday and now has another member.

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Since PTW is writing about Basketball Prospectus, it would be remiss not to mention that Preston Medlin was at the #100 spot. These rankings are based on last year's performances.

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USA Basketball has 22 players in camp and one of them is Fresno State signee Robert Upshaw. The Draft Express folks are predicting he makes the team (12 man roster) and have written this: "Inside the paint, there is no shortage of size, girth, length and athleticism, but we haven't seen one big man emerge as a reliable back to the basket presence as of yet. Robert Upshaw has tried to fill that role at times, and has had some success at times, while the likes of Robert Carter and Shaq Goodwin have preferred to float to the perimeter and shoot jumpers instead."

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Alex Kline/The Recruit Scoop has the latest on 6-foot-3 shooting guard Mike Perez: "Nevada had UTEP transfer Michael Perez on campus today, he announced"

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Jason Groves has been a-tweetin':

"McKinley Boston said the school and head hoops coach Marvin Menzies are still in contract talks"

Gotta nail him down -- bball is the best thing NMSU has going 

and

"2012 C Norvel Pelle will take his next official visit to DePaul per @RunninRams3, Pelle had a "really good" visit to NMSU last weekend"

Has a recruit ever come back and said (not thought): "No way in hell I'm ever going back there." Pelle would be a great get even if he likely can't play next season. MM is working it.

Friday and the world of WAC hoops

Max McCombs reports that Coach David Carter is buying next time.

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Robert Kuwada writes that Fresno State will be hitting Pauley Pavilion in late December -- Robert Upshaw versus Josh Smith.

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Dayton Morinaga has a print and video update from Coach Gib Arnold. Is it Gerry Blakes being alluded to? Does having Sham help make it happen? Don't think they played on the same club team but must have known one another but to what degree?

Wendell McKines is interviewed after working out for the Golden State Warriors. 

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Mel Grussing offers what he's been hearing about Kyisean Reed and the folks in Logan should be happy.

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Utah State and Nevada are looking at Beehive State prepster Stephan Holm. Note that Casey Oliverson looks headed to Salt Lake Community College.

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Payton Dastrup has now been offered by ASU, in addition to UC Davis and Utah State. Plus, Arizona is in the wings for the 6-foot-10 2014 high schooler.

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Sportsbow has this note on a possible UH walk-on, Michael Harper. Everyone should have an Aussie, even just for post-game interviews.

What the heck does Utah State look like next season?

In the 2012-13 go-around, Coach Stew Morrill will be missing Brockeith Pane, Brady Jardine, Morgan Grim, Mitch Bruneel, Igor Premasunac and Adam Thoseby.

But before a call for a talent roundup collection is posted or a leniency pleato opponents is issued, consider that Morrill and Company has restocked the shelves quite handily.

6-foot-10 sophomore Jordan Stone, 6-foot-11 junior Jarred Shaw (redshirt Oklahoma State) and 6-foot-11 sophomore Matt Lopez (redshirt La Salle who will become eligible in late December) will man the middle

Stone is still sculpting his game, Shaw looks like the best defender of the group and Lopez brings offensive possibilities. There's no Gary Wilkinson among the bunch as yet but it will be fin watching each enjoying the touches that the Aggie offense generates for bigs. Plus, there's count-em 15 fouls to give in league play.

6-foot-6 senior Kyisean Reed will play the four, probably backed by 6-foot-7 soph returnee Ben Clifford and 6-foot-7 JC transfer Sean Harris, if and when he becomes healthy. A fully focused Reed would amp up the scoring potential from this spot but that has yet to become a reality and he has just one season remaining. He will continue to bring the spectacular but it's the steady that is needed.

At the three, it looks like a rotation of juniors Spencer Butterfield, Marvin Jean and 6-foot-6 Danny Berger unless one emerges from the pack. A lot of MB posts have Berger redshirting next season but that remains to be seen. 6-foot-5 frosh Quincy Bair may also don a magenta jersey or might see some time at the two. Morrill has a bountiful crop here.

6-foot-4 junior Preston Medlin owns said two spot and should be on the court for 35 minutes a game in 2012-13.

Running the point will be 6-foot-1 JC transfer TeNale Roland, plus a pair of challengers in 6-foot-2 freshmen in Marcel Davis and Riley Bradshaw. The latter will also see time at the deuce.

In summary, it remains to be seen if a consistent point producer will come from the four and five positions. There's a lot to like at the three even if a each is unproven. Medlin will be in the running for conference MVP while Roland has to adjust quickly to getting down USU offensive sets because a freshman at the point is simply asking too much too soon.

The Aggies are back, if they ever left.

Utah State offers a 2013 prospect

Eric Sondheimer reports that Utah State has offered 6-foot-6 SoCal prepster Michael Thomas, a 2013 recruit.

Monday's WAC hoops disintegration

The Signal's Joey Gulino has posted a feature on Trevor Wiseman.

Yes, Wiseman does have starting ability in the right five-man configuration, like being surrounded by two or three ability-to-create-for-themselves teammates. As with 99% of players, it all comes down to fit as his strengths are defending and offensive rebounding. However, his academic concerns and decision to not enter a game are going to limit his welcome wagon opportunities.

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Per Josh Gershon, SoCal prep prospect Blake Hamilton has cast his lot with Northern Arizona. He visited Hawaii last weekend.

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Kurt Kragthorpe writes that Utah State is heading to where it belongs.

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From Josh Paunil's latest post on a young man out of San Diego who will end up in the Pac-12: 

Tyree Robinson | Class of 2013 | Shooting Guard | 6’3 | 190

• On what’s been going on in his recruitment recently: “Lately I’ve been getting recruited by a lot of Pac-12 schools like Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State.”
• Lists offers from “UC Santa Barbara, Arizona State, Utah, Fresno State, San Jose State and a bunch of other West Coast schools.”
• On what he’s looking for in a school: “I’m looking for somewhere where I can get up and down, play my type of game, a good academic school because I’m high on academics and I want to go far in the class room and on the court at the same time.”
• Looking to visit Stanford, California and USC since he likes their mix of academics and athletics.

Thursday's WAC hoops collection

Jason Groves has the news about a pair shooters launching into Las Cruces.

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Two championships in a row and Gary Wilkinson might not be back in New Zealand. Here's another article covering that territory.

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From a Gilbert Muako tweet: "Weber St, Seattle & UC Riverside offered '13 G Manroop Clair of @DRIVEBasketball expect more to come. Kid is talented"

He's a 6-foot-1 backcourter. Here's a late July 2011 article.


Here's videotape from last summer:

Assessing the northern Aggies

BenD @ Torn By Sports looks at the Utah State roster: the perimeter and then the post.

Saturday's WAC basketball highlights

AggieSurge at the AggieAlert Basketball MB has posted this: "6'6 210 lbs SF Matej Buovac has been offered by NMSU and has already visited Las Cruces"

Buovac is visiting Tulane this weekend. UAB has also offered.

Here's a blog entry from April 17.

It certainly seems like New Mexico State is focused on landing a two or a three whose top talent is shooting, especially from distance.

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Matt Sonnenberg, courtesy of a secret poster, has news about a big change taking place in The Spectrum.

That's it for now.

Gary Wilkinson's team in New Zealand

Here's an interesting article on former Utah State center Gary Wilkinson's squad in New Zealand, one on the verge of winning another league title. The owner has a pronounced policy on who he signs.

Spencer Butterfield to Utah State

The reports are accurate -- talked with Yuba (CA) College guard/wing Spencer Butterfield this morning and he is indeed going to be an Aggie. Loved everything about his visit -- "I was blown away" he said. More later.